As the new school term swiftly approaches, five friends who call themselves OKERA (based on their first initial) – Onicia Fredericks, Kieana Greene, Eion Adams, Rebbie Singh and Astrid English – are eager and ready to commence their teaching careers at the Kato Secondary School in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) when it officially opens on September 2, 2018.
The five teachers will volunteer their services at the school. The quintet will be graduating from the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) this year and are all majors in English Language.
The five teachers met with Chief Education Officer Marcel Hutson and a team to discuss the particulars of their contribution.
The senior officials were impressed with the teachers’ decision. According to the
From left: Rebbie Singh, Kieana Greene, Eion Adams, Onicia Fredericks and Astrid English
CEO’s Technical Assistant, Francesca Vieira, the selfless idea by the teachers to begin their career in Kato was birthed at a CPCE enrichment week activity where students were exposed to an orientation exercise.
Additionally, Vieira urged the teachers that as they head into a new environment, they should use the manuals that are available to seek guidance so as to address the various issues that may arise.
CEO Hutson also applauded the students for their willingness to leave the comfort of their homes to travel to the interior location to educate the nation’s children.
He said that they should be commended, since within their own deliberations they would have recognised the need for trained teachers at the soon-to-be opened school.
In addition, he noted that their decision meshed with the mission of the Education Ministry to reduce the disparity between the coastal and hinterland communities in the education sector.
According to the five teachers, the idea to travel to Kato was presented to them by Fredericks and they all agreed. In explaining her decision to travel to the interior, Fredericks explained that children on the coast were more fortunate in terms of the quality of education being delivered and as such, she believes that their skills and knowledge would greatly impact the lives of the children in the hinterland region.
The five teachers were lauded by Assistant CEO June-Ann Gonsalves, who informed them that they would be housed in the teachers living quarters at the said school.
She reassured them that they would be supported in every way possible by the Education Ministry during their transition period and thereafter.
